Regular Maintenance

Modern vehicles don’t require much in order to keep them running, but there are still a few things which need to be done on a regular basis in order to keep your car running smoothly. At 5 Points, we like to make it as easy as possible to maintain your vehicle, and we’ve got a list of the things which you should do regularly.

Oil Changes

Keeping the oil fresh in your vehicle is one of the most important maintenance items you can perform on your car or truck. Oil keeps your engine parts lubricated and prevents wear. Once your oil breaks down, your engine can become compromised. Fortunately, this is a relatively inexpensive undertaking compared to the money it saves you in other repairs.

Fluids and Hoses

No matter what kind of car you have, it will require certain fluids in order to run, and fluids wear out hoses on a regular basis. Having them checked on a regular basis will help you to avoid getting stuck on the side of the road with the hood open and steam coming out.

Battery

Get your battery checked every 6 months. Excessive heat and excessive cold wear down your battery more quickly than normal. A dead battery isn’t usually life threatening, but it certainly makes for a bad day when it happens. 5 Points can check the battery while we’re doing other maintenance on your vehicle and save you the headache.

Tires

Unless you drive around with your seat belt hanging out of your door making sparks on the road, your tires are the only parts of your car which make regular contact with the road. Keeping them in good shape is crucial to safety on the roads. Regular inspection for foreign objects and wear will help you get the most mileage out of your tires. If you notice uneven wear on the tire, bring it in for a check up.

Tire Rotation

Good tires can last a long time, provided they are rotated on a regular basis. We’ve seen many tires which fail inspection because one side of the tire has worn beyond the allowable limit, while the other side is almost new. Rotating your tires is much more economical than buying new tires prematurely.

Wheel Alignment

If you’ve noticed your car or truck pulling to one side or another, or the tires wearing unevenly, it may be time to get your vehicle aligned. This can prevent other issues from arising further down the road. For this reason we have a “lifetime alignment check” plan you can purchase for your vehicle where we check your alignment for you up to twice each year for free. It’s a no-risk way of making sure your vehicle is still in alignment without having to pay for a mechanic to tell you that. If you need an alignment, we’ll let you know what needs to be done. Give us a call for current pricing on the lifetime alignment check plan.

Belts

Like hoses, the belts in your vehicle are susceptible to wearing down, slipping and breaking, leaving you stranded, and often with larger repair problems. Some belts, such as your timing belt, are enclosed in your engine and can’t be visually inspected. It’s for this reason that most manufacturers recommend an interval at which they should be changed. Other belts, such as the serpentine belt, can be checked and replaced much more readily. Either way, it pays to make sure that your belts are in good shape on a regular basis.